Universal Leaf CEO and leadership

GEORGE C. FREEMAN, III, has been Universal's Chief Executive Officer since April 2008, and President since December 2006. Previously, Mr. G. Freeman served as Universal’s General Counsel and Secretary from February 2001 until November 2005, and was elected Vice President in November 2005. Prior to joining Universal, Mr. G. Freeman served as a law clerk for the Honorable Richard S. Arnold, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; a law clerk for the Honorable Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court; and an associate with Hunton & Williams, an international law firm. Mr. G. Freeman is also a director of Tredegar Corporation, a manufacturer of plastic films and aluminum extrusions, since May 2011 and serves on its Nominating and Governance Committee and is Chair of its Executive Compensation Committee. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Universal since his election in 2008, and serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee and a member of the Finance and Pension Investment Committee.

Airton L. Hentschke, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has more than 24 years of experience in leaf operations with Universal. Mr. Hentschke previously served as Executive Vice President of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc., since 2013, and Regional Director for the Company's operations in South America, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Leaf Tabacos Limitada in Brazil, since 1991.

Johan C. Kroner was elected Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on September 1, 2018. He served as Senior Vice President from February 6, 2018. He also serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Universal Leaf. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of Universal Leaf from September 2014 to September 2018, and Vice President from October 2011 to September 2014. Mr. Kroner has been with the Company since July 1993.

GEORGE C. FREEMAN, III, has been Universal's Chief Executive Officer since April 2008, and President since December 2006. Previously, Mr. G. Freeman served as Universal’s General Counsel and Secretary from February 2001 until November 2005, and was elected Vice President in November 2005. Prior to joining Universal, Mr. G. Freeman served as a law clerk for the Honorable Richard S. Arnold, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; a law clerk for the Honorable Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court; and an associate with Hunton & Williams, an international law firm. Mr. G. Freeman is also a director of Tredegar Corporation, a manufacturer of plastic films and aluminum extrusions, since May 2011 and serves on its Nominating and Governance Committee and is Chair of its Executive Compensation Committee. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Universal since his election in 2008, and serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee and a member of the Finance and Pension Investment Committee.

Airton L. Hentschke, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has more than 24 years of experience in leaf operations with Universal. Mr. Hentschke previously served as Executive Vice President of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc., since 2013, and Regional Director for the Company's operations in South America, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Leaf Tabacos Limitada in Brazil, since 1991.